Oil seal



March l1,4 1947. R. s. GREGOIRE OIL SEAL Filed Haren 19, 1945 ATTO RN EYS Patented Maf. 11, L194W 2,417,107 on. SEAL Resta S. Gregoire, Detroit, Mich., assigner of arold L. Coxand twenty twenty per cent to per cent to John Jose Detroit, Mich.

ph Thornton, Jr., both of Application March 19, 1945, Serial N0. 583,463

The present invention relatesv to oil seals for rotatable shafts extending through the walls of housings or the like.

Among the objects of 'the invention is an o1'l\ seal which is effective, simple in construction and application, and produces a minimum of friction on the rotating part.

Another object is an oil seal which is adjustable in its lateral pressure against the adjacent parts.

Still another. object is an oil seal which is effecunnished surfaces.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those` skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing in'which Figure 1 is an end elevation of thestructure of Figure 2, as from the left of the latter.

Figure 2 is a vertical central section on the line .A2-2 of Figure 1.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views showing alternate forms of sealing rings.

Figure 6 shows a group of .part sections of rings illustrating proposed forms for the shaft contacting portions of the rings.

'Ihe drawing, in Figures 1 and 2, shows a preferred form of seal surrounding a shaft III extending through a wallv I I provided with a tubular boss I2, Within the boss I2 and surrounding the shaft I is shown the sealunit and in Figure 2 `this unit is indicated as made up of a plurality of annular members I which in section are shown to be hollow, axially flattened and provided on theirvouter peripheries with a, foot piece IB and on their inner periphery with a flexible or radially, more easily compressible ring portion I1.

These annuli I5 are preferably molded of oilresistant rubber like material such as that marketed under the name Neoprene and are perforated for the reception of a plurality of bolts adapted to pass in an axial direction through the annuli and through a suitable annular plate 2l at either end of the group. Three of such Ibolts are shown and, while a greater or lesser number of such bolts maybe used, three will in lmost cases be preferable.,l

The use of bolts 20 and plates 2| provides for axially directed pressure on the yannuli I5 which, when such pressure is applied, expand radially in both directions to press them against the wall of boss I2 and against the shaft I0. The plates and bolts, of course, seal the springs in the annuli.

The preferred form of inner ring portion II is shown in Figures 2 to 5 as of exiblehook-shaped 55 annular plate at each end of said group of annuli 2, Claims. (Cl. 286-7-39) tive though used for shaft openings provided with form, (when seen in section). Other forms, however, may be used as indicated in Figure 6, such as the circular bead I'IA, the double hook I'IB or the double channeled form I'IC. This latter may or may not be provided with oil drains I1D from the channel. i

Further, the annuli I5 may be given a somewhat different form if desired. The form shown in Figure 3 is substantially the same as that of Figure 2, except that it is somewhat thicker.

Figures 4 and 5 show the annuli to be molded uponthin walled hollow metal cores 30 and 3|, the core 30 being indicated as being provided with radial notches or saw cuts BIA. These cores may be made of either a, spring metal or of softer non-resilient metalsuch 1as aluminum. If of the former, some means `of maintaining pressure, such as bolts 20, must be used. If a nonresilient metal is used, they may be compressed and will maintain their position indefinitely.

The chief difference between cores 30 and 3|,

however, is their shape. This diierence in shape produces a difference in the amount of radial expansion inwardly and outwardly. For example, when the annulus of Figure 4 is compressed axially, the foot I6 moves radially a lesser distance than theportion I1. With the form of Figure 5 the movement is substantially the same for both I6 and I'I. y

In installing the seal, axial compression of any of the forms shown will cause the foot piece I6 to press tightly against the adjacent wall and produce the seal for this portion while the lip I1 bears against the shaft and produces the seal at the inner periphery.

I claim:

1. An oil seal for a. shaft-'opening in a housing, said seal comprising an annulus of resilient oil resistant material provided on its outer periphery with a wall contacting extension and on its inner peripheryl with a flexible shaft contacting extension, said annulus being molded upon a hollow thin-walled metallic core whose cross 5 sectional( dimension axially is considerably less than its radial dimension and with bowed walls whereby axial compression will expand said cored annulus radially in both directions. l

2. An oil seal for a. shaft passing through a wall, said seal consisting of a plurality of hollow annuli of flexible oil resistant material surrounding said shaft and provided on their outer peripheries with wall contacting ribs and on their inner peripheries with flexible shaft contacting ribs, an

3 '4 and a plurallt o1' bolts passing through said mm TES mm plates and annuli parallel to said shaft. STA v PA RESTA s. GREQQIRE., Number Name Date' 2,306,160 Freyssinet Dec. 22, 1942 REFERENCES CITED 5 v 'FOREIGN PATENTS Thel following references are of record in the Number Country Date me or this patent: 12,006 Brmsn 1 July 31, 1890. 

